Perhaps not everyone knows that one of the most popular biscuits on Italians’ breakfast tables is inspired by an archaeological find, specifically a mould created by ancient Pompeiians more than 2000 years ago. We are talking about the Gran Turchese biscuit, a classic almost seventy years old –it will turn 70 in 2025 – by Colussi.
From Val di Zoldo to Venice
However, Colussi’s entrepreneurial adventure began a little earlier. In fact, it all started in the 17th century, when the Colussi Manéta family, originally from Val di Zoldo (Belluno), decided to move to Venice to work as baker’s boys. Soon, however, they became owners of the business they were employed by, thus starting one of Italy’s most important confectionery businesses.
In the 19th century, the Colussi family had several bakeries in Venice, which stood out, among other things, for producing ‘baicoli,’ traditional Venetian biscuits.
The 20th century and Gran Turchese
The beginning of the twentieth century marked the transition from artisan to industrial production, with the opening of the first factory in Venice in 1911, followed by others from northern to southern Italy. In the 1930s, production began to diversify with new lines dedicated to panettone, wafers and small pastries, and Colussi saw the opening of fourteen new shops. In 1949, after an inevitable dark period due to the war, the Perugia plant was opened, equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, and in 1952, Colussi was among the first Italian companies to produce shortbread with rotary technology. In 1955, the company was led by Giacomo Colussi, and Gran Turchese was born. The unmistakable biscuit was inspired by a round, perforated Roman mould Giacomo saw during a visit to Pompeii.
Acquisitions and new product lines
In the 1980s, biscuit production was joined by the production of rusks and crackers, while the acquisition of the Misura brand in 1996 marked the group’s entry into the wellness food sector. This was followed over the years by the acquisitions of other important brands such as Agnesi, Ponte –an ancient Umbrian pasta brand sold mainly abroad – and Sapori, which specializes in traditional Tuscan sweets. The most recent acquisitions include Pastificio Plin in 2018 and the chocolate brand La Suissa in 2019.
The company’s story in a volume
Today, the Colussi Group is one of the leading companies in the food sector, with ten production plants, six of which are in Italy. Angelo Colussi Serravallo, Chairman, and Giacomo Colussi, CEO, are at the helm of the group, which employs around a thousand people, has a turnover of hundreds of millions of Euros, and distributes its products in 80 countries.
Recently, Silvana Editoriale published a volume dedicated to the group’s history: “Colussi 1791. Una ricetta di famiglia.” Simone Marzari and Massimo Orlandini edited it.
Congratulations to those who value history, innovate and bring Made in Italy biscuits to the world!
Learn also about the history of Pasta Agnesi.